Pretty Face (14 page)

She stood there as he ran his hands over her body like he was either checking for broken bones or a concealed weapon. “Are you hurt? Do you feel okay?”

Cody didn’t have a clue what his problem was, but she couldn’t handle the emotional upheaval. “I’m fine. Why would you think I wasn’t?”

“The wreck, I saw a wreck on television. There was a pile-up on the road between here and Baton Rouge. The car that was destroyed was a red Mazda Miata. I was afraid you’d been hurt or…God, killed.” He stood before her, still breathing hard. Lifting one hand, he cupped her cheek—the scarred one. “I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”

Cody stared at him, really looked at him. He was so beloved, so dear. She leaned into his hand and covered it with her own. Turning her head, she kissed his palm. “Nothing happened to me. I didn’t come home on Highway 1, I cut through on 416. I gave a student a ride home.” Right before her eyes, the tension left his body, she saw him relax.

“I would never have forgiven myself if something happened to you and I never got the—”

Cody interrupted him, she had to. “Hunter, you don’t owe me anything. I’m the one who hurt you.”

“Yes, you did,” Hunter admitted. “You weren’t honest with me. You could have been.”

Something inside Cody snapped, she stepped back away from him, shaking her head. “No, you’re wrong.” She hiccupped a harsh sob. “I mean, yes, I could have been honest from the first. But you have to admit, you have to be honest. If you’d seen this face,” she waved her hand toward her head, “on a profile picture, you wouldn’t have given me the time of day.”

“Stop.” Hunter invaded her space, cupping her jaw, rubbing his thumb over the blemish that had hurt Cody so much more than a mere scar ever could. “You might be right. I used to be a shallow son-of-a-bitch.” He grinned, and she bit back a smile, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “But you see, something happened.” Hunter paused for effect, leaning forward to kiss her scar. “I met this woman, this incredibly sweet beautiful woman.”

“Not beautiful,” she whispered.

“Yes, beautiful,” he reiterated. “You became my friend, my confidant, my exciting-as-hell online lover who gave me better orgasms from thirteen-hundred miles away than I’d had with others one-on-one.”

“That wasn’t me.” Cody swallowed hard. “That was Sage.”

Hunter took one more step, drawing her near him, framing her face and kissing her full on the lips. “You are Sage.” When she tried to shake her head, he kissed her again. “You are Sage and you are Cody. I fell in love with both of you. Thank God, you’re one person.”

“What are you saying?” Her hands weren’t obeying her anymore, they were caressing him, petting him, clinging to him like she’d never let him go.

“I’m saying that I am sure. I am steady. I’m not a fancy doctor like you are, I’m just a man who works with his hands. But I create things. I form things.”

“Hunter, you don’t have to convince me of your worth. I’ve wanted you, adored you, coveted you forever.”

“Cody, you are my very best friend, my lover. I want you to be my partner. My heart beats for you.” He picked up her hand and laid it on his chest. “I place my heart in the palm of your hand. There’s a lot in this life I can’t give you, but there’s one thing I promise you.”

Cody was trembling, she was so afraid she’d wake up and all of this would be a dream. “Tell me. I’m hanging on your every word.”

Hunter smiled his big, beautiful smile. “I promise to love you every day of my life. I promise you me.”

“I’ll take you,” Cody said quickly. “I’m no fool. I always knew you were more than a pretty face.”

“Baby, to me you’re beautiful.” Hunter kissed away her tears. “Absolutely beautiful.”

Hunter and Cody stood on the wrought iron balcony, looking down at the street, holding hands. The Mardi Gras parade was in full swing. Bands were playing. Brightly colored floats were rolling by and the people riding on them all wore masks. They were throwing beads and gold doubloons. Happy people were everywhere.

None of them had a thing on Cody. She bounced on her toes and looked into the eyes of the man she loved. “So, you’re taking the job to restore Starlight?”

“Yes, I am. I want to stay here with you.”

Cody didn’t want to argue. Why would one argue when they were being given everything they’d ever wanted? But she couldn’t be selfish. “Are you sure? There are schools in Colorado where I could teach.”

“True, but you’re the department head here. I don’t want to take that away from you. Cody, my home is here.” When she looked confused, he pressed his forehead to her, looking into her beautiful blue eyes. “Wherever you are is home. Besides, Marnie and Trinity are counting on you for the dating service too.”

“Hunter, I don’t intend to let them down, especially not since I’ve found my own ‘right one’.”

She held up a hand for him to wait, then she reached behind her and gave him a book. The title read, just as she’d said. “The Right One,” he spoke out loud. “What’s this?”

“This,” she touched the book lightly, “is what the key to my heart fits, the one on your key ring. For the past two years, I’ve kept a journal. All of my hopes, fears, and dreams of you are in this book. You can read it and know every thought in my heart about you.”

He ran his hand over the book. “Thank you, I will. I have something for you too.”

“What is it?” she asked. “You’ve already given me everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Hunter bent over and picked something up. “Your shoe. You left it on the boat and I couldn’t leave it behind. I never intended to walk away from you. Even when I had my doubts, I always knew I’d come find you.”

“I’m Cinderella,” she said with a giggle of delight, taking her shoe in her hand.

“Maybe, but you’re the most beautiful girl in the world to me.” He kissed her. “My Pretty Face.”

“I love you, Hunter Reed,” Cody said as they watched the parade go by. “Laissez le bon temps rouler. Let the good times roll.”

BOOKS IN THE

RED HOT CAJUN NIGHTS COLLECTION

Cody’s life is defined by two great truths. She is in love…and she has committed a great sin. Cody has been playing with fire and she’s about to get burned. Hungry for attention, she allowed a wonderful man to fall in love with her. Their only contact has been on the internet and telephone conversations. Cody put a good spin on her life by telling half-truths and sending photos of a woman with a beautiful body and a pretty face, only the woman wasn’t Cody. Scarred by abuse, she hides from prying eyes.

Cody loves Hunter enough to let him go. Full of guilt, she is prepared to disappear from his life. Hunter begs to meet her, but she refuses. But if Cody won’t come to him, Hunter will come to Cody.

Louisiana is in the midst of Mardi Gras, a time of love, laughter and letting the good times roll. Masks are worn at Mardi Gras, and the mask Cody wears will hide more than a pretty face.

http://sablehunter.com/

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Daisy Kerr’s life has reached the edge of the cliff and fallen off. Her so-called fiancé Craig Myers has embezzled millions from the investment firm where they both work and left her holding the bag. The FBI thinks she’s somehow involved, she’s been fired from her job and the condo she lives in belongs to Craig. Heartsick and depressed, she decides to use the tickets Craig had bought for their trip to Mardi Gras and see if she can “Let eh good times roll” in New Orleans. For a few days she can party and forget about her troubles. Maybe even meet a sexy Cajun man to take her mind of her troubles. A fling sounds really good to her right about now.

Leaving the airport she meets Marc Doucet, a Louisiana native now living in New York. He tells her he’s in town on business but he’d love to show her the ropes of Mardi Gras. And a whole lot more. It’s not long before he’s really putting some Cajun spice in her life and then some. Sex had never been so good or made her feel so special. Maybe they might even see each other back in New York if she can straighten out the mess her life is.

But what Daisy doesn’t know is Marc is an FBI agent sent to ferret out any knowledge she might have of Craig’s scheme. His plan was to romance her, until romance landed in their laps for real. When Daisy overhears him in a phone conversation with his boss she feels betrayed once again and can’t get out of town fast enough. It will take a grand gesture on Marc’s part to get past the new walls around her heart and convince her what they have is real.

www.desireeholt.com

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Gabrielle Scott is fed up with helping her playboy boss seduce and woo his countless bimbettes courtesy of her culinary masterpieces. Yeah, the pay is good, and you can’t beat the luxurious digs she’s treated to as his resident personal chef. But she can’t afford the frustration of living under the same roof with the one man who drives her crazy in every possible way. The damnable truth? She’s in love with the irredeemable bastard, and the only way she’ll get over him is to get naked under him. The plan? Attend Jax’s annual Mardi Gras ball incognito and entice him into a hot night of sin—right before handing in her resignation.

Jaxon Noble always gets what he wants. Especially when it comes to the opposite sex. So when Gabbi shows up at his party in an eye-popping costume and outrageously flirts with him it’s a foregone conclusion that she’ll finally be his. He’s more than happy to go along with her game, and the combustible heat they generate together proves it was well worth the wait to have her. But when morning comes and Gabrielle calmly announces she’s quitting, Jax is faced with the sobering fact that perhaps money can’t buy everything. Or more to the point—the only person who’s ever meant anything to him.

For someone who’s used to winning at all costs, losing Gabbi isn’t an option. And Jax will pull out every sweet and sexy trick to convince her to take a chance on a forever with him. Even if it means handcuffing her to his bed.

http://www.jodiredford.com/More_Books.html

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When Malea’s best friend, roommate, and infatuation is arrested, tried, and convicted, she’s left alone. What she once loved about their cozy little apartment in chilly, fog-ridden, Northern California turns out to be too much for her still-aching heart. With her budding career as an author, Malea can go anywhere, and no place sounds better than the warmth and spice of The Big Easy.

They say time heals, but it’s been over three years of Malea spending her time working, and searching for a connection to help her forget the only man she ever loved—unrequited as it may have been—the pain still stings as loneliness settles against her heart.

When the Quarter fills with laughter and music in celebration of Mardi Gras, will Malea find what she needs in the crowded streets of the French Quarter? Or will an unexpected encounter change the game completely? As they say, Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler…

This Mardi Gras Season, let the sinful good times roll with Wicked Perfection, A Night Sinners Novella and part of the Red Hot Cajun Nights multi-author series (stands alone for reading enjoyment).

*Wicked Perfection is a M/M/F story intended for readers of 18 and older.

Find out more at:
http://www.magenmcminimy.com/wicked-perfection-red-hot-cajun-nights

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Mardi Gras is coming, and no one is more excited than Jolie—The Big Easy’s resident good witch. Amidst the festivities, darkness creeps under the blissful veil of love she is entangled with. Her twin sister, the evil witch Melanie, is out to destroy Jolie before her powers can usurp her own, willing to stop at nothing to do so. Jolie, aided by Asher and his seven-man wolf pack, are set to keep New Orleans safe from Melanie’s sorcery, or die trying.

Enjoy the story of Jolie and Asher, a modern-day retelling of the classic tale Snow White.

This Mardi Gras season, let the sinful good times roll with Trapt, a Twisted Wolf Tale and part of the Red Hot Cajun Nights multi-author series (stands alone for reading enjoyment).

Warning: This supernatural urban fantasy romance novella contains adult situations and is meant for ages 18+.

Find out more on Rene’s website at
http://renefolsom.com/trapt

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